LABOR PLAN WILL TACKLE THE ISSUES BEHIND NURSING SHORTFALL
October 17, 2007
The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) today welcomed the announcement by Labor leader Kevin Rudd to put over 9,000 extra nurses into Australia’s hospital system, particularly the initiative to expand HECS places for nursing by another 1500 over 5 years.
Andrew Nette, NTEU Policy and research Co-ordinator, said:
“This announcement is certainly a step in the right direction. Last year, despite the well documented shortage of nurses in Australia’s hospitals, over 2,400 university applicants were turned away from registered nursing courses because there were not enough places.
“It is also encouraging to see that the ALP has recognised the vital role played by universities in providing the best possible education for our future nurses.”
“Nurses have long argued about the importance of their education being located within the university system, as this enables them to engage in research and ensures their education is compatible with medical, allied health practitioners and other health care professionals whom they must work alongside.”
“As part of this the initiative to allocate a proportion of these new nursing places to the upgrading of existing TAFE accredited qualifications is also welcomed.”
“In addition to the extra nursing places, NTEU also supports measures to attract trained nurses back into the hospital system.”
“Labor’s plan certainly contrasts with the Prime Minister’s recent proposal to return nursing to a antiquated model of hospital based training, supplemented by a TAFE equivalent, which does nothing to solve the nursing shortage and has negative implications for standards of patient care and the professional standing of nurses.”
“It is evident from this announcement today that the ALP is serious about ensuring that our nurses are afforded training at the very highest standards, which is particularly vital given the rapid technological changes in medicine.”
For information and comment:
Andrew Nette, NTEU Policy and Research Co-ordinator Ph (03) 9254 1910